The definitive source for established book collectors or those who would like to start collecting themselves. A place to show off your collection or share tips on finding the best deals online or at your local bookstore, thrift store or flea market.

Feel free to ask questions!

If you are curious about the value of a book you have, try to include a photo, publisher information, copyright date (if any), and a general idea about the condition.

A few years back I purchased a 1st edition paperback of West With the Night thinking it was a mass market paperback reprint. However, when the book arrived I discovered it was the 1st edition / 1st printing only it was paperbound not Hardcover (this was 1942 and paper was rationed during the war years). The book is the same size as its hardcover counterpart. I have yet to find another one of these anywhere and haven't seen other examples of other titles from that era printed in paper and hardcover. Anyone else run across any of
these or this one in particular. Its condition is good only and am considering having it restored or rebound. The textblock is in better condition but the cover with the same cover art as the hardcover dustjacket is delicately attached to the book. Any input would be welcome.

The books posted on vialibri are mostly 2nd printings or later. The
1st printings mostly lack the dustjacket or its in terrible condition (until it reaches an almost thousand dollar price tag. The 1st hardcover itself is difficult to find. I wasn't really concerned with its market value. I was more interested in knowing if anyone had run across a similar volume or another war era novel that had a simultaneous trade paper back printing along with its hardcover printing. This is not the North Point Press reprint but the Houghton Mifflin edition. I don't have a photo to post because my books are in storage while we renovate.
I appreciate the responses.

if you have a true 1st/1st, in original wrappers, it would be a bad idea to have it rebound.

I don't have an answer as to whether it was printed also (whether prior to or concurrent with your copy) in hardcover, but it's usually never an improvement (as far as collectors are concerned) to rebind.

Only real exception is when the original binding is utterly shot and actually detracts value, or the new (presumably full leather) binding is by a very highly collected binder. Of rebound books, a contemporary binding is typically preferred to a recent rebinding.